The flame, lit from president Kennedy’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, will be used to light the new Emigrant Flame at a ceremony in his ancestral home of New Ross, Co Wexford.

Paul Kehoe, Government chief whip, travelled from America with the flame.

“The journey of this flame from the grave of president Kennedy to the land of his ancestors and finally to the spot where his great-grandfather stepped on board an emigrant ship is a symbolic one,” he said.

The Kennedys at Aras An Uachtarain

“This flame will now continue on its journey in the safe hands of the Naval Service where it will be used to light an emigrant flame in New Ross on Saturday.”

Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Caroline Kennedy and Jean Kennedy-Smith will light the Emigrant Flame in a special ceremony on Saturday.